The Seventh Art is one of the most admired art forms, having taken its first steps in the 19th century. But what is the history that drove Portuguese cinema? Who was its main ‘driving force’? And where was the first national movie shot? In this article we try to answer these questions.
However, as you may have guessed, the city of Porto played a very important role, standing out as the ‘cradle’ of national cinema. Although Manoel de Oliveira, an illustrious Porto native, is one of the biggest names, we have to go back a little further.
In fact, it was Aurélio da Paz dos Reis who started it all . A merchant, flower grower, photography enthusiast and film buff, this Porto native is considered to be the pioneer of cinema in Portugal… And it all began in 1896. In other words, less than a year after the public screening of the Lumière brothers ‘ film in Paris (France).
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The first steps of Portuguese cinema
Fascinated by the French brothers’ cinematograph, Paz dos Reis traveled to Paris to buy it, but to no avail. However, he ended up buying a similar device from the Werner brothers. This became known as the Kinematografo Portuguez and fulfilled its intended purpose: to film.
So he shot his first film in Rua de Santa Catarina, today one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, at Camisaria Confiança, a factory, in order to record the people who worked there.
“Workers leaving the Confiança Factory”
Although it wasn’t the first movie to be filmed in Portugal, it was the first to be made in Portugal by a Portuguese person, which is why it marks the beginning of Portuguese film culture.
The public premiere of the cinematograph, with the screening of the first film and other documentaries depicting national life, took place on November 12, 1896 at the Teatro do Príncipe Real, now known as the Teatro Sá da Bandeira.
Despite being the forerunner and pioneer of Portuguese cinema, and after making some documentary films, he ended up leaving this activity. This was because the Porto businessman was losing enthusiasm in the face of the country’s indifference to his creations and this new art form.
Always passionate about culture, Paz dos Reis was a figure of respect and admiration in the city. As well as taking part in a wide range of cultural activities, he was a councillor and deputy mayor of Porto. He died in 1931 and is buried in the Prado do Repouso.